Merry Christmas & We're Still Moving!

Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers - all four of you including my dear, sweet Chop! :)~

It's been a terribly long time since my last update, but we are still planning our move and well on track for our late spring, early summer Key West arrival!

The past several months have been hectic on one hand, yet frustratingly slow on the other. I just finished the first of two grad classes at the University of Virginia as part of my teaching re-certification requirement for the state of Florida. My current license coincidentally expires next summer, and I am still very determined to teach in the Lower Keys. With that in mind, I don't dare risk a lapse in my license now (not that I ever would consider slacking ... way too much work to start over from scratch!). Needless to say, I had to swap blog writing for research writing this term, but I'm back in the proverbial saddle.

Oh, did I mention that our little 19-month old tyke has boundless energy, and I'm ready to fall into the dead zone of sleep by 9:30pm each night?? Where, oh, where - please really, do tell! - do new mommies find the endless time to get anything done??

Alas, that's the forever question that will never be resolved, so let's talk about the sloooowness of the past few months instead. Here's the funny thing, once Chop and I sat down and mapped out our specific timeline, we realized that there ain't much happenin' between then (the summer) and now. Sure, we've been plugging away at a gazillion hum drum details, but the big stuff is only just starting to roll. Three weeks ago - in the midst of two final papers, two nasty flu spells (one Chop, one me), and one miserable sinus infection that tormented the partridge in the pear tree - we finally had the opportunity to schedule an appointment with our Realtor. We needed to know some very specific information before putting our home on the market. More details on that later, but we got the news we'd hoped to hear (or close enough, anyway) which ultimately allowed us to put a date on the 2011 calendar. March 1st, baby. The house is going on the market on March 1st. Whew!

Which of course led to the, "Oh, my GOD" revelation. We have three months to get this house prepped, packed, and staged for sale! Seriously, this is scaaaaaary! It seems that no matter how many yard sales we have and how much we donate to Goodwill, stuff ... still ... multiplies. I'd love for the Discovery Channel to provide a scientific explanation to this common conundrum.

So, here we are. BIG stuff is happening now. In fact, I should be plugging along on my cover letter for my application package, but I just completed three reference letter requests, one application and five golden rings, so I'm thinkin' a little break is acceptable for the rest of the afternoon. So much more to tell, though! I'll be back!

P.S. Dear Santa, I'm claiming "new mommy" status until our son starts kindergarten. Please understand. Amen.